I hope everyone had a great holiday season and that this new year is
healthy and prosperous to all.

I wanted to share an interesting discussion a good friend and I had
today at lunch. We started talking about intention. We agreed that
intention plays a big part in outcome, whether it be in medicine or
not. For example, the intention the doctor brings during treatment.

That led to another observation, that of patient belief. If a person
who is seeking health does not believe that a certain medicine or type
of medicine is going to help them, than it probably won't. On the
other hand if a person believes, or is led to believe, that something
is going to help them, than it probably will. Another example, I have
a close relative who does not believe that naturopathic medicine could
help his health problems, but he does believe whole-heartedly that
when he goes to his MD and gets prescription drugs, that he will feel
better. And he does feel better, even though his body may be getting
worse.

Then we brought a third variable in, the power of the medicinal
substance. Many drugs overpower a persons free will, and in turn may
change their beliefs. Then they are dependent. Other substances do
this to us; sugar, caffeine, alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription
drugs, etc. On the other hand, we are being instructed to use gentle
medications, one's that will help and support an individuals own
healing process.

We then realized that quite possibly for effective treatment and
health promotion all three factors (intention of the giver, belief of
the receiver, and the nature of the medicine) have to be aligned.
Many of our modalities and even or philosophy tell us to work with the
body to promote healing, not to over-ride it and force it.

I dont mean for this be a long post, I tried to be to the point.
Please offer comments, and those of you who are in practice please
share if this way of thinking is inline with what you have
experienced. I am still a student who sits on my rear end all day and
looks at words and pictures to learn medicine, at least at this point ;)

Thanks!
Tom